If you want to amend minor aesthetic alignment issues in your smile, your dentist may recommend Invisalign. This treatment involves custom-made, translucent, plastic aligners that you wear for at least 22 hours per day. Then they gradually push your teeth into your desired straighter position.
Many patients appreciate that the clear color of Invisalign offers a more subtle appearance during treatment than harsh metal braces. But Invisalign will require at-home care to ensure they continue to appear pristine. Check out maintenance tips from your dentist regarding how to keep your Invisalign aligners looking and feeling their best during your teeth-straightening treatment.
Remove Invisalign When Eating and Drinking
Invisalign aligners are removable, meaning you can take them out of the mouth when necessary. For optimal results, you will need to wear Invisalign most of the day, including when you sleep. But dentists will ask patients to remove Invisalign when they eat or drink.
This is because food can easily become trapped in the aligners and make a mess. Beverages, especially dark-colored ones, could also stain your Invisalign, which may make your teeth appear dark or yellow when wearing Invisalign.
So to preserve the appearance of your aligners, take out Invisalign during mealtimes. You can drink water with Invisalign without issue though. Make sure you rinse Invisalign to remove germs before placing Invisalign back in your mouth.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
If you want to keep your Invisalign looking its best, you will take care of your underlying teeth as well. Though Invisalign covers your teeth, your smile will still collect plaque and other residue throughout the day. This can transfer to your aligners if you do not remove it in a timely fashion.
Then you might see discoloration, deterioration, or other structural damage to Invisalign that may then interfere with your teeth-straightening treatment. So make sure you keep your teeth clean by completing consistent and thorough oral hygiene.
You can remove Invisalign so that you can brush and floss your teeth without disruption from your oral appliance. Floss every day and brush your teeth at least twice each day for optimal oral health benefits.
Complete Separate Cleaning for Invisalign
You will need to complete a separate cleaning regimen for Invisalign aligners from your usual oral hygiene routine. The aligners will accrue plaque and other build-ups throughout your day as well which will need removal. Otherwise, you might stain or harm your aligners.
Once a day, perhaps during your oral hygiene routine, you should brush your Invisalign. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush so that you do not scratch the aligners. And use a cleaning paste without abrasive ingredients to avoid harming the appliance.
When you rinse and wash Invisalign, do not use hot water. The high temperatures could melt and warp the device. Ill-fitting Invisalign will not fit or function properly.
If you do suffer damage to Invisalign, let your dentist know. You will require urgent replacements to avoid disruption to your cosmetic dental treatment.